# NTSB CHI01LA054: Cessna 152, N757DX, Sturtevant, WI, December 27, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 27, 2000, 07:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Sturtevant, WI - Coordinates: 42.700706, -87.890739 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7007&lon=-87.8907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 50897 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50897/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA054 ## Probable cause The unsuitable terrain for landing selected by the student pilot, the inadequate initial training by the flight instructor, and the flight instructor's decision to send the student pilot on a solo flight in known adverse weather conditions. Factors to the accident were the snow showers, the student pilot becoming lost, the student pilot not using the pitot heat, the snow covered terrain, the precautionary landing performed by the student pilot, and the student pilot's lack of experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - snow (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather, flight instructor(on ground) (cause) - inadequate initial training, flight instructor(on ground) (cause) - pitot system - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a precautionary landing to a snow covered field. The student-pilot said that the flight had begun as a dual instructional flight and then a solo flight. The pilot said that the weather during the dual instructional flight was overcast with light snow. The pilot said that, during the solo flight, the snowfall was getting heavier and that he decided to return to the airport. He said, "Before I made the initial turn to base I noticed my airspeed was only 50 KIAS. This was after I put carb heat on, throttle back to 1500 RPM, nose up to 60 KIAS and flaps to 10 [degrees]. Concerned that my airspeed was not high enough to make the left hand turn, I decided to make a right hand turn to circle around again and increase my airspeed. I kept trying to increase the airspeed with no success, by lowering the nose. I ended up by I-94 and Hwy 11. On my route there I tried radioing the airport but could not hear the instructor. Once I could he said to land at [an airport], which I didn't know where it was. All this time the airspeed kept dropping and I was concerned about a stall. The airspeed became so low (30-35 KIAS) I decided to land in a field.... I believe this was a hayfield and was snow covered [approximately] 10-14 inches. ... When the wheels touched ground it went for a short distance and flipped over nose first." The pilot said that after the accident, his instructor came to the accident site and told him that the pitot tube was, "plugged up." The pilot said that two days after the accident his flight instructor asked him to complete his pre-solo written examination. The student-pilot provided a copy of the cover page for the written examination dated "1/2/01". A weather report for a reporting station located about 7 miles and 060 degrees from the accident site was reporting, at 0753; winds 290 degrees at 07 knots; visibility 4 statute miles; light snow; ceiling 2600 feet overcast; altimeter setting 30.28 inches of Mercury. A weather report for a reporting station located about 7 miles and 170 degrees from the accident site was reporting, at 0810; winds 310 degrees at 08 knots; visibility 2 statute miles; light snow; scattered clouds at 2200 feet; ceiling 2600 feet overcast; altimeter setting 30.27 inches of Mercury. ## Factual narrative On December 27, 2000, at 0750 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N757DX, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing near Sturtevant, Wisconsin. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at two weather reporting stations near the accident site. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, reported no injuries. The local flight originated from the John H Batten Airport, Racine, Wisconsin, at about 0730. In a written statement, the pilot said that the flight began as a dual instructional flight and that he and his flight instructor made, "...2-3 takeoffs and landings, together." He stated that his instructor then told him to, "... takeoff, fly around for a while and land again. Weather up to this point was overcast light snow." The pilot said that the snowfall was getting heavier and that he decided to return to the airport. He said, "Before I made the initial turn to base I noticed my airspeed was only 50 KIAS. This was after I put carb heat on, throttle back to 1500 RPM, nose up to 60 KIAS and flaps to 10 [degrees]. Concerned that my airspeed was not high enough to make the left hand turn, I decided to make a right hand turn to circle around again and increase my airspeed. I kept trying to increase the airspeed with no success, by lowering the nose. I ended up by I-94 and Hwy 11. On my route there I tried radioing the airport but could not hear the instructor. Once I could he said to land at Sylvania [airport], which I didn't know where it was. All this time the airspeed kept dropping and I was concerned about a stall. The airspeed became so low (30-35 KIAS) I decided to land in a field. I could not find Sylvania. I believe this was a hayfield and was snow covered [approximately] 10-14 inches. ... When the wheels touched ground it went for a short distance and flipped over nose first." The pilot said that after the accident, his instructor came to the accident site and told him that the pitot tube was, "plugged up." In a telephone conversation, the pilot said that two days after the accident his flight instructor asked him to complete his pre-solo written examination. The student-pilot provided a copy of the cover page for the written examination dated "1/2/01". A weather report for a reporting station located about 7 miles and 060 degrees from the accident site was reporting, at 0753; winds 290 degrees at 07 knots; visibility 4 statute miles; light snow; ceiling 2600 feet overcast; altimeter setting 30.28 inches of Mercury. A weather report for a reporting station located about 7 miles and 170 degrees from the accident site was reporting, at 0810; winds 310 degrees at 08 knots; visibility 2 statute miles; light snow; scattered clouds at 2200 feet; ceiling 2600 feet overcast; altimeter setting 30.27 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N757DX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757DX-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 15279667, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15279667 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: William Gensler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: RAC, RACINE, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 12 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: RAC, 7 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001227043059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001227043059A), Dec 27, 2000: Cessna 152, Sturtevant, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot made off airport landing due to slowing airspeed. Aircraft was flown in light snow, 4 mile visibility. Pitot heat control not installed in… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.